Apparatus for operating subsurface sleeve valves and similar well bore devices



3,166,128 APPARATUS FOR OPERATING SUBSURFACE SLEEVE" Jan. 19, 1965 w. D.MYERS VALVES AND SIMILAR WELL BORE DEVICES Flled Dec 31 1962 71 24/044,0; Myses INVEN TOR.

Jan. 19, 1965 w. D. MYERS 3,166,128

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING SUBSURFACE SLEEVE VALVES AND SIMILAR WELL. BOREDEVICES Filed Dec. 31, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. W44 00M .0..MYEQS BY M M W flrrae/vs vs.

Jan. 19, 1965 w. D. MYERS 3,166,123

APPARATUS OPERATING SUBSURFA SLEEVE VALVES SIMILAR WELL BORE ICES FiledDec. 51, 1962 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 III/III Mu /w ,D. Myses INVENTOR.

:47- roe/ways.

United States Patent Tools, Inc, Los Angeles, Caiih, a corporation ofCaiiforuia Filed Dec. 31, 1962, Ser. No. 248,425 15 Claims. (Cl.166-214) The present invention relates to subsurface well boreapparatus, and more particularly to apparatus adapted to be moved in awell conduit, such as a well casing or liner string, to perform certainfunction therewithin.

An object of the invention is to provide apparatus embodying aself-contained device for shifting a valve in a particular direction ina conduit string disposed in a Well bore and for automatically releasingitself from the valve to permit the device to continue moving throughthe conduit string in the same particular direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus embodying aself-contained device for shifting a valve in opposite directions in aconduit string between opened and closed conditions and forautomatically releasing itself from the valve so that the device cancontinue to move within the conduit string in the same directions aswhen shifting the valve.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus embodying aself-contained device adapted to be latched or coupled to a member in awell conduit when moved in one direction in the conduit and forautomatically releasing itself from the well conduit member to permitits continued movement through the well conduit in such one direction.

An additional object of the invention is to provide apparatus embodyinga self-contained device adapted to be latched or coup-led to a member ina well conduit when moved in opposite directions in the conduit and forautomatically releasing itself from the conduit member to permit itscontinued movement through the Well conduit in both of such oppositedirections.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of theabove-described character which is capable of giving a positiveindication to the operator at the top of the well bore of its operationstherewithin.

This invention possesses may other advantages, and has other objectwhich may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a formin which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawingsaccompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will nowbe described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the generalprinciples of the invention; but it is to be understood that suchdetailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since thescope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section through an apparatus embodying theinvention, with its parts in one operative position;

FIG. 2 is a quarter longitudinal sect-ion, on an enlarged scale, of theapparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, with its parts-in another relativeposition;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the apparatus with itsparts in till another relative position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the apparatus with itsparts in their relative position for operating in a reverse manner tothat illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of parts of the apparatus in anotherrelative position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 66 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line '7-7 on FIG. 1.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings includes a valve device A tobe shifted between opened and closed conditions, the valve device beingincorporated within a tubular string B adapted to be disposed in a wellbore. The tubular string may be a casing or liner string, its valvedevice including an outer tubular body member 10 having one or more sideports 11 therein through which fluid can flow between the interior andexterior of the tubular string. The upper end of the tubular member maybe constituted as a threaded pin 112 adapted to be threadedly secured toa collar 13, which, in turn, is threaded onto an upper conduit stringsection 14. The lower end of the tubular member may be constituted as athreaded box 15 threadedly connected to the upper end of a lower section16 of the tubular string.

The ponted region of the tubular member 10 has an internal diametersubstantially greater than the normal internal diameter of the sections14, 16 of the tubular string. As shown, the ported region of the tubularmember is defined by an upper stop shoulder 17 formed therein, therebeing an upwardly tapering surface 18 in the tubular member adjacent tothis stop shoulder. The upper end of the lower tubular section 16 formsa lower stop shoulder 19, there also being a downwardly taperingshoulder 20 adjacent to the lower stop shoulder.

Passage of fluid through the side ports is controlled by a shiftablesleeve valve 21, which is adapted to be disposed across the ports 11 inengagement with the upper stop shoulder 17, to close the latter, asshown in PEG. 1. Upper and lower side seal rings 22, 23 are carried bythe sleeve valve 21 for sealing against the inner wall 24 of the tubularmember onopposite sides of the ports to prevent valve leakage. Thesleeve valve member 2 1 is releasably retained in its port closingposiion by a releasabie detent device, such as one or more ball latchingdetent elements 25, each carried in a pocket 26 in the lower portion ofthe valve sleeve and adapted to be received in an upper internal groove27 in the tubular member. The lower portion 28 or" the sleeve 21carrying each ball detent member is separated from the main portion ofthe sleeve valve by a slot 29 so that such lower sleeve portion isyieldable in an inward direct-ion to allow the ball detent member 25 tobe camrned out of the groove. The upper groove 27 has tapered side walls39 engaged by each ball detent element to urgethe latter inwardly when asufficient downward force is imposed on the sleeve valve 21.

When the sleeve valve 21 is shifted downwardly to a position opening theports 11, such as disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ball detent element 25snap into a lower releasable retaining groove 31 to hold the sleevevalve 21 in such lower position, this lower groove also having taperedside walls 32 for camrning the ball detent elements inwardly out of thegroove when sufficient The valve sleeve 21 is shifted between its openand closed positions by a shifting apparatus C which becomes coupled tothe valve sleeve and which then becomes automatically coupled therefromafter it has been shifted to another position. The shifting apparatuscan shift the valve sleeve from an upper position to a lower position,

automatically releasing itself from the valve sleeve to permit it tomove downwardly in the conduit string B, if desired, below the positionof the valve sleeve. Similarly, it is shiftable upwardly into couplingrelation to thevalve sleeve to shift the latter from a lower position toan'upper position, then becoming automatically released from the valvesleeve for continued upward movement through the valve sleeve and in theconduit string.

As disclosed, the shifting apparatus C includes a tubular mandrel orbody 40 made of several sections. As shown, a first section 41 ispiloted within a second section 42, the inner section 41 having an upperthreaded pin 43 threadedly secured to the second body section 42 andalso having a transverse shoulder 44 engaging the lower end of thesecond section. The two body sections 41, 42 actually function as one,the body or mandrel 44 being made in the two sections for convenience ofmanufacture and assembly of the apparatus. The second or upper body ormandrel section 42 has an upper threaded box 45for threaded attachmentto the lower end of a section 46 of a tubing string D which may extendthrough the well bore to the top thereof. The first or lower bodysection 41 of the mandrel may have a threaded box 47 adapted tothreadedly receive a companion member (not shown) therebelow, such as atubing string or a suitable tool disposed in the tubular string B.

The outer body section 42 has a plurality of circumferentially spacedlongitudinal slots 48 extending completely through its wall and formingwith the inner section longitudinal grooves 49. An elongate latch member50 is disposed in each body groove, each latch member extendingoutwardly through a longitudinal slot 51 in a carrier sleeve 52 slidablymounted on the exterior of the outer body section 42. Each latch memberhas longitudinally spaced and oppositely arranged upper and lower dogsor lugs 53, 54 adapted to project outwardly of its companion sleeve slot51, being urged outwardly by longitudinally spaced helical compressionsprings 55, each being received within a companion socket 56 in thelatch opposite a dog 53,54, with its inner end bearing upon and slidableagainst the base of the groove 49 provided by the periphery of the innerbody section 41.

Each latch has its upper dog 53 facing downwardly and adapted to engagethe upper end of the valve sleeve21 for the purpose of shifting itdownwardly along the outer tubular member 10, its lower dog 54 facingupwardly and adapted to engage the lower end of the valve sleeve toshift the latter upwardly along the tubular member. The upper outercorner 57 of each upper dog is tapered in an upwardand inward direction;whereas, the lower outer corner 58 of the lower dog'54 is tapered in adownward and inward direction. The longitudinal extent of the upper dog53' is substantially the same or slightly less than the uppercircumferential recess 33 between the upper'end of the valve sleeve 21and the upper tapered shoulder 18 when the valve sleeve is initsuppermost position, the longitudinal extent of the lower dog 54 beingsubstantially the same as but no greater than the distance between thelower end of the valve sleeve and the lower tapered shoulder 20 when thevalve sleeve 21 is in its lowermost position. With this relationship ofparts, the upper dog 53 can be shifted laterally outwardly into therecess 33, as shown in FIG. 1, and into coupling engagement with theupper end of the valve sleeve 21. The lower dog 54 can be shiftedlaterally outwardly into the lower circumferential recess 34 and inengagement with the lower end 4&- the extent of outward shifting of eachlatch dog under the influence of its spring 55. The fingers or tanks 66,61 have another, purpose, and that is to beengaged by latch releasingmembers when a particular set of dogs is to be released from the valvesleeve 21.

As shown, the inner and major portion of each latch 50 and its upper andlower tangs or fingers 60, 61 are disposed in a longitudinal body groove49. The longitudinal extent of each groove 49 is substantially greaterthan the overall length of a latch. The upper end of each groove 4? isdefined by a retracting cam surface 65 inclined in an upward and inwarddirection and adapted to engage the upper tang or finger 60. The lowerend of each groove is defined by a lower latch retracting cam surface 66inclined or tapering in a downward and inward direction. When the uppercam surface 65 engages the upper tang 66 and moves downwardlytherealong, it will shift the upper dog 53 inwardly. When the lower camsurface 66 engages the lower tang or finger 61 and moves upwardlytherealong, it will shift the lower latch finger or dog 54 inwardly, asdescribed hereinbelow. Y

' The latch carrier sleeve 52 and the latches 50 projecting through itsslots 51 are movable relatively longitudinally of the body 40 of theapparatus within limits, as determined by engagement of the upper end ofthe sleeve 52 with an upper shoulder 67 at the upper portion of the body40, and by engagement of the lower end 68 of the sleeve with the lowershoulder 44 0f the mandrel or body. The latch sleeve 52 is releasablyheld in either its upper or lower positions by a releasableholdingdevice. As

shown, the lower portion of the carrier sleeve 52 is provided with aplurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending slots 69providing longitudinal arms 70 that have intermediate inwardlyprojecting cam fingers or dogs 71 which are adapted to be received ineither an upper circumferential body groove 72 or a lowercircumferential body groove 73. Each body groove has tapered outwardlydiverging side walls 74 adapted to coact with companion tapered sidewalls 75 on the cam fingers or lugs 71, such that the exertion of asuflicient longitudinal force'between the side 74 of a groove 72 or 73and the companion side of the cam fingers 71 will cam the fingers 71outwardly of the groove and effect release between the downward positionalong the body 40, such'as disclosed in FIG. 1, the springs 55 can shiftthe lugs 53, 54 outwardly of the sleeve 52, the upper retracting camsurface 65 being a substantial distance above the upper tangs or fingers60. The upper springs 55 can shift the upper lugs or dogs 53 outwardlyto an extent sufiicient for its reception within the upper recess 33 andin a position to be coupled to the upper end of the sleeve valve 21.When the carrier sleeve 52 and latches 59 are in an upper position alongthe body or mandrel 40, the lower retracting surface 66 is spaced belowthe lower tangs or fingers 61 by a substantial extent, the lower springs55 being capable of shifting the lower lugs or dogs 54 outwardly intothe lower recess 34, where the lower dogs 54 can become coupled to thelower end of the valve sleeve 21.

When the carrier sleeve 52 is releasably latched to the body or mandrelby reception of its cam fingers in a circumferential body groove 72 or73, the carrier sleeve 52, mandrel 40 and the latches 50 movelongitudinally as a unit. When sufiicient resistance is encountered,asby inability to shift the valve sleeve 21 longitudinally to anyfurther extent, the exertion of sufficient longitudinalforce on the bodyor mandrel 40, by appropriate manipulation of the tubing string D, willcause the body 40 to cam the fingers 71 out of a particular groove 72 or73 in which they were received, disconnecting the carrier sleeve 52vfrom the body, and allowing the latter to move longitudinally of thecarrier sleeve and the latch members 51 to shift one of the cam surfaces65, 66 into engagement with its adjacent latch tangs or fingers 60, 61,which will then cam a particular upper or lower set of lugs 53 or 54inwardly from coupling engagement with the valve sleeve 21, releasingthe shifting apparatus C from the valve sleeve 21 and permitting itslongitudinal movement therethrough.

As disclosed in FIG. 1, the valve sleeve 21 is in a port closingposition. If it is desired to shift it to a port opening position, theshifting apparatus C is secured to the tubing string D and lowered inthe well bore, the carrier sleeve 52 being latched in its lower positionon the body 49, as disclosed in FIG. 1. The apparatus will enter thetubular string B and the lower dogs 54 of the latches will shiftinwardly within the valve sleeve 21, since the lower tapered or beveledcorners 58 will merely ride past the upper end of the valve sleeve.However, the upper dogs 53 will be forced outwardly by the upper springs55 into the upper recess 33, the upper dogs coming to rest upon theupper end of the valve sleeve 21. A suficient downward force is thenimposed through the tubing string D on the body 40 of the tool, which istransmitted through the cam fingers 71 to the carrier sleeve 52, andfrom this sleeve to the upper dogs 53, shifting the latches 50downwardly, and in view of the coupling of the upper dogs 53 with theupper end of the sleeve 21, overcoming the retaining force of the balldetents 25 in the upper groove 27, releasing the latter from this grooveand allowing the sleeve 21 to shift downwardly in the tubular member149. The cam fingers 71 disposed in the groove 73 require a much greaterforce to effect release of the carrier sleeve 52 from the body 4% thanis required to inwardly deflect the ball detent members 25 from thetubular member groove 27. Accordingly, the valve sleeve 21 is shifteddownwardly, as a result of downward movement of the tubing string D andapparatus C, to the full port opening position, such as disclosed inFIG. 2, in which the ball detents 25 will snap into the lower groove 31,the valve sleeve engaging the lower stop shoulder 19, which willpreclude its further downward movement.

The inability of the valve sleeve 21 to move downwardly to a furtherextent will also prevent the latches 59 and their carrier sleeve 52 frommoving downwardly to a further extent. Accordingly, the imposition of asulficient downward force on the tubing string D and the body or mandrel40 will cam the fingers 71 out of the lower body groove 73, releasingthe body 40 from the carrier sleeve 52 and allowing the body to shiftdownwardly of the sleeve 52 and the latches 50, bringing the upperretracting cam surface 65 into engagement with the upper tangs 6t), andthen carnming such tangs and the upper lugs 53 inwardly to the extent atwhich the upper lugs or dogs 53 are disengaged from the upper end of thevalve sleeve 21, as disclosed in FIG. 2, full engagement occurring whenthe body moves downwardly so that its upper groove 72 is opposite thecam fingers 71, whereupon the spring arms 76 will snap such cam fingersinto the upper groove 72. At this time, the parts are in the positionillustrated in FIG. 3, the latches 50 having been fully released fromthe valve sleeve 21, whereupon the shifting mechanism C, including itslatches 50, can be shifted downwardly within the valve sleeve 21 and thetubular member 10, and through the tubular string B therebelow, ifdesired. The lower tapered corners 58 of the latches will merely slidealong the tapered surface 20 of the low- ,er tubular section 16 and theupper dogs 53 will also engage such tapered surface and be shiftedinwardly. Thus, continued downward movement of the tubing string D andthe shifting mechanism C can occur to the desired extent.

Assuming the valve to be in the open position disclosed 21 by elevatingthe tubing string D, which will elevate the body 40 and the latchmechanism 50, 52. The upper tapered corners 57 of the latch dogs 53 willengage the lower end of the sleeve 21, which will merely shift suchupper portions inwardly of the sleeve 21. The lower dogs 54, however,will be shifted outwardly by their springs 55 into the lower recess 34and will engage and be coupled to the lower end of the valve sleeve.Upward movement of the tubing string D and body. 40 will now carry thecarrier sleeve 52 and the latches 50 upwardly with them, the balldetents 25 being cammed out ofthe lower groove 31 and the valve sleeve21 being shifted upwardly to its position fully across the ports 11, toclose the same, and to the extent limited by engagement of the upper endof the valve sleeve with the upper shoulder 17, at which time the balldetent or detents 25 will snap into the upper retaining groove 27 (FIG.4). The valve sleeve 21 cannot move upwardly to any further extent,which is also true of the latches 50 and the carrier sleeve 52. Acontinuation of the upward strain on the tubing string D and body 4%will then cause the lower tapered side 74 of the upper body groove 72 tocam the fingers 71 outwardly to release the body 46 from the latchsleeve 52, allowing the body to move upwardly of the latch sleeve andthe latches 50, bringing the lower retracting earn surface 66 intoengagement with the lower fingers 61 and shifting them inwardly,effecting release of the lower dogs or lugs 54 from the lower end of thesleeve 21, as illustrated in FIG. 5. When the dogs 54 have been fullyreleased from the valve sleeve 21, the lower body groove 73 will bedisposed opposite the sleeve fingers 71, the latter snapping into suchgroove and again releasably coupling the carrier sleeve 52 to the body40, as disclosed in FIG. 1. The tubular string D and the shiftingapparatus C can now be moved upwardly, the dogs 53, 54 sliding throughthe sleeve 21 and along the upper groove surface 18 into the confines ofthe upper portion of the tubular member 11 and into the tubular string Bthereabove. The tubing string D and the shifting mechanism C can nowcontinue their upward movement, and, if desired, the entire apparatus Ccan be withdrawn from the .well bore.

The shifting and releasing mechanism C is self-contained, since it isthe retracting cam surfaces 65, 66 that release the latches 50 fromcoupling relation to the valve sleeve 21. Moreover, because of thesubstantial force that can be required to release the body 40 of thetool from the carrier sleeve 52, a positive indication is given to theoperator at the top of the well bore that a valve sleeve 21 has beenshifted to a desired position, since the shifting force first increasesand then will decrease upon camming of the latch fingers '71 from aparticular groove '72 or 73, and also by release of the dogs 53 or 54from the valve sleeve 21. Thus, the operator is not only advised. of thefact of shifting the valve sleeve 21 to a port 7 opening or a portclosing position, but also of the fact of release of the shiftingmechanism C therefrom.

I claim:

1. In subsurface well bore apparatus: a ported mem ber adapted to formpart of a conduit positioned in a well bore; valve means for controllingflow of fluid through the port of said member; support means movablethrough the conduit; latch means movably mounted on said support meansand including an upper portion adapted to be coupled to said valve meansfor moving said valve means downwardly within said ported member and alower portion adapted to be coupled to said valve means for moving saidvalve means upwardly within said ported member; means on said supportmeans engageable with said upper portion for uncoupling said upperportion from said valve means upon continued downward movement of saidsupport means; and means on said support means engageable with saidlower portion for uncoupling said lower portion from said valve meansupon continued upward movement of said support means.

2. In subsurface well bore apparatus:- a' ported member adapted to formpart of a conduit positioned in a well bore; valve means for controllingflow of fluid through the port of said member; support means movablethrough the conduit; latch means movably mounted on said support meansand including upper and lower portions adapted to be coupled selectivelyto said valve means; means releasably securing said latch means to saidsupport means and releasable by said support means upon being subjectedto a force imposed thereon by said support means, whereby said supportmeans and latch means move jointly downwardly within said ported memberto couple said upper portion to said valve means and move said valvemeans downwardly within said ported member, said support means and latchmeans being movable jointly upwardly'within said ported member to couplesaid lower portion to said valve means and move said valve meansupwardly within said ported member; means on said support meansengageable with said upper portion after release of said securing means,for uncoupling said upper portion from said valve means upon continueddownward movement of said support means; and means on said support meansengageable with said lower portion for uncoupling said lower portionfrom said valve means upon continued upward movement of said supportmeans. 7 3. In subsurface well bore apparatus: a ported member adaptedto, form part of a conduit positioned in a well bore; valve means forcontrolling flow of fluid through the port of said member; support meansmovable through the conduit; latch means movably mounted on said supportmeans and including upper and lower portions adapted to be coupledselectively to said valve means; means releasably securing said latchmeans to said support means and releasable by said support means uponbeing subjected to a force imposed thereon by said support means,whereby said support means and latch means move jointly downwardlywithinsaid ported member to couple said upper portion to said valvemeans and move said valve meansdownwardly within said ported member;said support means and latch means being movable jointly upwardly withinsaid ported member to couple said lower portion to said valve means andmove said valve means upwardly within said ported member; stop means onsaid ported member engageable by said valve means to limit upward anddownward movement of said valve means; means' on said support meansengageable with said upper portion, after engagement of said valve meanswith said stop means and release of said securing means, for

uncoupling said upper portion from said valve means upon continueddownward movement of said .support means; and means on said supportmeans engageable withv said lower portion, after engagement of saidvalve means i with said stop means and releaseof said securing means,for uncoupling said lower portion from said valve means upon continuedupward movement of said support means.

4. In subsurface well bore apparatus: a ported member adapted to formpart of a conduit positioned in a Well bore; valve means for controllingflow of fluid through the port of said member; support means movablethrough the conduit and having a longitudinal groove; latch meansmounted on said support means and including -a latch member in saidgroove mounted for longitudinal and lateralmovement with respect theretoand expandible laterally outwardly into coupling engagement with saidvalve means for moving said valve means longitudinally in one directionwithin said ported member; and means on said support means engageablewith said latch member for retracting said latch member from couplingengagement with said valve means upon continued movement of said supportmeans longitudinally in said one direction.

and latch means move jointly longitudinally in one direction within saidported member to move said valve means in said one direction within saidported member; and means on said support means engageable with saidlatch member, after release of said securing means, for retracting saidlatch member from coupling engagement with said valve means uponcontinued movement of said support means longitudinally in said onedirection.

6. In subsurface well bore apparatus: a ported member adapted to formpart of a conduit positioned in a well bore; valve means for controllingflow of fluid through the port of said member; support means movablethrough the conduit and having a longitudinal groove; latch meansmounted on said support means including a carrier sleeve sleeve andmovable longitudinally and laterally in said groove with respect to saidsupport means and expandible laterally outwardly into couplingvengagement with said valve means; means releasably securing said carriersleeve to said support means and releasableby said support means uponbeing subjected to a force imposed thereon by said support means,whereby said support means and latch means move jointly longitudinallyin one direction within said ported member to move said valve means insaid one direction within said ported member; stop means on said portedmember engageable by said valve means to limit movement of said valvemeans in said one longitudinal direction; and means on said supportmeans engageable with said latch' member, after engagement of said valvemeans with said stop means and release of said securing means, forretracting said latch member from coupling engagement with said valvemeans upon continued movement of said support means longitudinally insaid one direction.

7. In subsurface well bore apparatus: a ported mem ber adapted to formpart of a conduit positioned in a well bore; valve means for controllingflow of fluid through the port of said member; support means movablethrough the conduit; latch means mounted on said support means andincluding a latch member mounted for longitudinal and lateral movementwith respect thereto and expandible laterally outwardly into couplingengage-.

ment with said valve means for moving said valve means longitudinally inopposite directions within said ported member; and means on said supportmeans engageable with said latch member for retracting said latch memberfrom coupling engagement with said valve means upon continued movementof said support means longitudinally in each of said oppositedirections.

5. Insubsurface Well bore apparatus: a ported member adapted to formpart of a conduit positioned in a well bore; valve means for controllingflow of fluid through the port of said member; support means movablethrough the conduit and having a longitudinal groove; latch means 8. Insubsurface well bore apparatus: a ported member adapted to form part ofaconduit positioned in a well bore; valve means for controlling flow offluid through the port of said member, support meansmovable through theconduit;latch means movablymounted on said support .means and includinga latch member adapted to be coupled to said valve means; said latchmember having an upper coupling portion and a lower coupling portion;means releasably securing said latch meansto said support means andreleasable by said support meansupon being subjected .to a force imposed(thereon by said support means, whereby said support means and latchmeans move jointly selectively downwardly or upwardly within said portedmember to selectively engage said upper portion or said lower pontionwith said valve means and move said valve means selectively downwardlyor upwardy within said ported member; stop means on said ported memberengageable by said valve means to limit downward and upward movement ofsaid valve means; and means on said support means engageable with saidlatch means, after engagement of said valve means with said stop meansand release of said securing means, for uncoupling said latch memberfrom said valve means upon continued movement of said support means ineach of said downward and upward directions. a

9. In subsurface well bore apparatus: a ported member adapted to formpart of a conduit positioned in a well bore; valve means for controllingflow of fluid through the port of said member, support means movablethrough the conduit and having a longitudinal groove; latch meansmounted on said support means including a carrier sleeve on said supportmeans and a latch member carried by said sleeve and movablelongitudinally and laterally in said groove with respect to said supportmeans and expandible laterally outwardly into coupling engagement withsaid valve means; said latch member having an upper coupling portion anda lower coupling portion; means releasably securing said carrier fleeveto said support means and releasable by said support means upon beingsubjected to a force imposed thereon by said support means, whereby saidsupport means and latch means move jointly selectively downwardly andupwardly within said ported member to selectively engage said upperportion or said lower portion with said valve means and move said valvemeans selectively downwardly and upwardly within said ported member;stop means on said ported member engageable by said valve means to limitdownward and upward movement of said valve means; and means on saidsupport'means engageable with said latch means, after engagement of saidvalve means with said stop means and release of said securing means, forretracting said latch member from coupling engagement with said valvemeans upon continued movement of said support means in each of saiddownward and upward directions.

10. In subsurface well apparatus: a ponted member adapted to form partof a conduit positioned in a well bore; a sleeve valve shiftablelongitudinally in said member between positions opening and closing itsport;.a body movable through the conduit; a latch sleeve slidablelongitudinally on said body; a latch member carried by said latch sleevefor lateral movement with respect thereto and having a coupling portionexpandible laterally outwardly into coupling engagement with said sleevevalve; means releasably securing said latch sleeve to said body, wherebysaid body, latch sleeve, and latch member move jointly in onelongitudinal direction to move said sleeve valve in said one directionwithin said ported member; stop means on said ported member engaged bysaid sleeve valve to limit movement of said sleeve valve in said onedirection; and cam means on said body engageable with said latch memberadjacent to its coupling portion, after engagement of said sleeve valvewith said stop means and release of said securing means, for retractingsaid coupling pontion from said sleeve valve upon continued movement ofsaid body in said one longitudinal direction.

11. In subsurface well apparatus: a ported member adapted to form partof a conduit positioned in a well bore; a sleeve valve shiftablelongitudinally in said member between positions opening and closing itsport; a body movable through the conduit and having a longitudinalgroove; a latch sleeve slidable longitudinally on said body; a latchmember carried by said latch sleeve and disposed in said groove forlateral movement with respect to said body and sleeve and expandiblelaterally outwardly into coupling engagement with said sleeve valve;said latch member having an upper coupling portion and a lower couplingportion; means releasably securing said latch sleeve to said body,whereby said body, latch sleeve, and latch member move jointly inopposite longitudinal directions to selectively engage said upperportion or said lower portion with said sleeve valve and move saidsleeve valve selectively downwardly and upwardly within said portedmember; stop means on'said ported member engaged by said sleeve valve tolimit upward and downward movement of-said sleeve valve; and cam meanson said body engageable with said latch member, after engagement of saidsleeve valve with said stop means and release of said securing means,for retracting said latch member from said sleeve valve upon continuedmovement of said body in each of said downward and upward directions.

12. In subsurface well bore apparatus adapted for engagement with aportion of a conduit string disposed in a well bore: support meansmovable through the conduit; latch means movably mounted on said supportmeans and including an upper portion adapted to be moved downward in theconduit string into coupling engagement with the portion of the conduitstring and a lower portion adapted to be moved in the conduit stringinto coupling engagement with the portion of the conduit string; meanson and movable longitudinally with said support means and intoengagement with said upper portion to uncouple said upper portion fromthe portion of the conduit string upon continued downward move ment ofsaid support means; and means on said support means engageable with saidlower portion for uncoupling said lower portion from the portion of theconduit string upon continued upward movement of said support means.

13. In subsurface well bore apparatus adapted for engagement with aportion of a conduit string disposed in a well bore: support meansmovable through the conduit; latch means movably mounted on said supportmeans and including an upper portion adapted to be moved downwardly inthe conduit string into coupling engagement with the portion of theconduit string and a lower portion adapted to be moved upwardly in theconduit string into coupling engagement with the portion of the conduitstring; means releasably securing said latch means to said support meansand releasable by said support means upon being subjected to a forceimposed thereon by said support means; means on and movablelongitudinally with said support means and into engagement with saidupper portion, after release of said securing means, for uncoupling saidupper portion from the portion of the conduit string upon continueddownward movement of said support means; and means on said support meansengageable with said lower portion, after release of said securingmeans, for uncoupling said lower portion from the por tion of theconduit string upon continued upward movement of said support means.

14. In subsurface Well bore apparatus adapted forengagement with aportion of a conduit string disposed in a well bore: a body movablethrough the conduit string; a latch sleeve slidable longitudinally onsaid body; a latch member carried by said sleeve for lateral movementwith respect thereto and having a coupling portion expandible directioninto engagement with the portion of the condiut i on said body; a latchmember carried by said sleeve and disposed in said groove for lateralmovement with respect to said body and sleeve and expandible laterallyoutwardly into coupling engagement with the conduit string; said latchmember having an upper coupling portion and a lower coupling portion;means releasably securing said latch sleeve to said body, whereby saidbody, latch sleeve, and latch member move jointly selectively upwardlyor downwardly within the conduit string to selectively couple the lowerportion or the upper portion to the conduit string; and cam means onsaid body engageable with said latch member, after coupling engagementof said latch 5 directions. 7 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSGarrett et a1 Apr. 30, 1957 2,924,278 Garrett et al. Feb. 9, 1960

1. IN SUBSURFACE WELL BORE APPARATUS: A PORTED MEMBER ADAPTED TO FORMPART OF A CONDUIT POSITIONED IN A WELL BORE; VALVE MEANS FOR CONTROLLINGFLOW OF FLUID THROUGH THE PORT OF SAID MEMBER; SUPPORT MEANS MOVABLETHROUGH THE CONDUIT; LATCH MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANSAND INCLUDING AN UPPER PORTION ADAPTED TO BE COUPLED TO SAID VALVE MEANSFOR MOVING SAID VALVE MEANS DOWNWARDLY WITHIN SAID PORTED MEMBER AND ALOWER PORTION ADAPTED TO BE COUPLED TO SAID VALVE MEANS FOR MOVING SAIDVALVE MEANS UPWARDLY WITHIN SAID PORTED MEMBER; MEANS ON SAID SUPPORTMEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID UPPER PORTION FOR UNCOUPLING SAID UPPERPORTION FROM SAID VALVE MEANS UPON CONTINUED DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAIDSUPPORT MEANS; AND MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAIDLOWER PORTION FOR UNCOUPLING SAID LOWER PORTION FROM SAID VALVE MEANSUPON CONTINIED UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS.